asked the Minister for Finance if he will instruct customs officials to expedite the passage through customs of farm machinery, and so hasten delivery of such implements, which are essential at this time of the year, to ensure that farmers are not held up unnecessarily in a season already difficult owing to adverse weather conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Customs Clearance of Farm Machinery.
12.
I am not aware of any circumstances calling for special instructions on the lines suggested. I repeat my invitation to the Deputy when replying to somewhat similar questions put down by him for 10th June, 1960, and 6th June, 1961, that he should bring to my notice any instance in which he thinks there has been avoidable delay attributable to the customs. In this connection, I may add that I would normally expect the customs examination of properlycompleted entries for imported goods to be completed within twenty-four hours of their submission by the importers or their clearance agents.
Could the Minister indicate the average time for which an imported agrricultural instrument is held up by the customs?
I told the Deputy I would expect them to be cleared on an average in 24 hours.
I can assure the Minister that I can give him instances of cases where they were held up for more than a week. In view of the adverse weather, does the Minister not consider he should give a direction to the customs officials to expedite clearance, particularly at this time of the year?
I am very anxious to get these instances so that I can investigate them.
I have never known one to come in under a week. This has been going on for years, and I get the same answer from the Minister every time.
Question No. 13 postponed.